Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys’ leader and voice, dies at 82

Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys’ co-founder, primary songwriter, and co-lead vocalist, has died. The beloved musician’s family announced the news on Wednesday, June 11, on social media. He was 82.

“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family wrote in a statement. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”

In 2024, it was revealed that the influential musician and auteur had been diagnosed with “major neurocognitive disorders” including dementia after his family filed court documents to secure a conservatorship for Wilson following the death of his wife, Melinda in January 2024. The details of Wilson’s death have not been released.

Wilson’s towering impact on music and especially rock and pop music can’t be overstated. Born Brian Douglas Wilson on June 20, 1942 in Inglewood, California, he formed The Beach Boys in 1961 with brothers Dennis and Carl, his cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The group found commercial success with albums like Surfin’ Safari, Surfer Girl, and Surfin’ USA, with Wilson at the helm of the songwriting and creative vision. In 1966, they released Pet Sounds which is critically considered one of the most acclaimed and influential records of its time in terms of its production risks and its pop appeal; Wilson served as the record’s primary arranger, producer, and songwriter. The 2014 film Love & Mercy, a biopic of Wilson’s life, recounted the story behind the making of the record.

Throughout his life, Wilson struggled with his mental health, suffering multiple nervous breakdowns throughout the 1960s. Per Guardian, he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and mild manic depression.

Wilson’s last public appearance was in May 2024 when he attended the premiere of Disney+’s The Beach Boys documentary with his bandmates.